Metal base.



M. G. NEUNER & G. R. LANDON.

METAL BASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1910.

980,429. Patented Ja11.3, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN C. NEUNER AND GEORGE R. LANIDON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGN- ORS TO THE NEUNER COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

METAL BASE.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MARTIN C. NEUNER and GEORGE E. LANDON, both citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Metal Base, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a metal base designed for holding electrotypes or copper plates. Heretofore electrotypes or copper plates have been tacked or otherwise secured to a supporting block and the object of the present invention is to provide a metal base with means for detachably securing the electrotype or copper plate thereto, the metal base being indestructible and permanent and provided with means for detachably holding electrotypes or copper plates of various sizes.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of metal base, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing adjacent parts of four metal bases and illustrating the manner in which they are closely arranged for printing. Fig. 3 is a section on line 00 00 Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of metal base and showing portions of adjoining bases to illustrate the manner of assembling the same in contact with each other without requiring the use of furniture as in the form shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the clamping jaws.

1 designates the body of the metal base which is formed of metal and which is provided with a plurality of clamping jaws 2 which project above its face and are adjustable to various positions longitudinally or transversely of the base 1. Each clamping jaw is constructed as shown in detail in Fig. 5 and is formed on a lug 3 which projects from an internally threaded non-revoluble nut 4E. The nut 4 is engaged by a screw 5, the latter near its outer end being provided with a smooth shoulder 6 which is ournaled in a hole 7 drilled into the base 1, the inner end of the screw 5 being loosely fitted and j ournaled in the contracted end 8 of the hole 7. In order to hold the screw 5 longitudinally in position a pin 9 is driven through the base 1 and engages a groove 10 formed near the end of the screw 5. The other end of the screw 5 is provided with a hexagon head 11 to receive a wrench whereby the screw may be turned. The lug 3 of each clamping jaw projects up through a slot 12 formed in the upper face of the base 1 above each hole 7 and having a tapered inner wall 12, the side walls of the slot 12 guiding the lug 3 and preventing the nut 4 from rotating. The screws may be adjusted to place the respective clamping jaws 2 in the proper position for clamping the electrotype or plate.

Fig. 3 shows a copper plate 13 engaged by clamping jaws 2. hen a copper plate is used an additional plate 14 is attached to the bottom of the base 1 to compensate for the relatively thin copper plate, the thick ness of the bottom plate 14: being equal to the difference in thickness between the electrotype and copper plate 13. The bottom plate l l may be detachably secured by screws 15.

Fig. 2 shows the manner in which the metal bases are assembled, furniture 16 being arranged at the adjoining corners to space the metal bases the requisite distance apart to give room for the hexagon heads 11.

In the form shown in Fig. the side edges of the metal base are formed with recesses 17 which receive the hexagon heads of opposite metal bases, as shown in Fig. 4, in this form, no furniture being required, corner portions of the adjoining metal bases touching each other, as shown.

The screws and clamping jaws on opposite sides of the metal bases are staggered, as shown in both forms, so that when the metal bases are assembled in printing position the hexagon heads 11 will not interfere with each other.

WVhat we claim is:

A metal base provided with a plurality of slots in its upper face extending in from each side edge thereof and provided with holes below and parallel with the slots, each hole communicating throughout its length with the slot above it and the wall of the inner end of the hole being of contracted diameter, each slot having a tapered wall at its inner end, the slots on one side of the bed being staggered with relation to the slots on the other side of the bed, a screw the outside diameter of which is less than the diameter of the hole lying in each hole, the inner end of each screw being rotatably mounted in the contracted inner end of the hole, the

inner end of each screw having an annular set our hands at Los Angeles, California, groove, 21 pin extending through the top porthis 24th day of February, 1910.

tion of the bed and engaging said groove, a MARTIN G. NEUNER. nutencircling each screw and having a jaw GEORGE R. LANDON. 5 which extends up through the slotabove the WVitnesses:

screw. G. T. HAOKLEY,

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto FRANK L. A. GRAHAM. 

